Israel has begun releasing over 600 Palestinian prisoners following Hamas’ transfer of four hostage bodies, marking the final exchange in the first phase of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire, which began last month, is set to expire on Saturday, and it remains uncertain whether negotiations for a second phase will move forward.
The four returned bodies are undergoing DNA testing to confirm their identities. They are believed to be those of Shlomo Mansour, 86, Ohad Yahalomi, 50, Tsachi Idan, 50, and Itzik Elgarat, 69, all of whom were abducted by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attacks. The remains were first tested near the Israel-Gaza border before being transferred to a forensic lab in Tel Aviv.
Hamas handed over the bodies privately, without public ceremonies, in contrast to previous exchanges. Israeli officials had previously accused Hamas of using such handovers to “humiliate” hostages, delaying earlier prisoner releases in protest. The process was resolved through mediation efforts on Tuesday, breaking days of deadlock between the two sides.
Palestinian prisoners released as part of the deal include more than 400 Gazans detained during the war and 50 serving life sentences in Israeli prisons. They were freed from multiple detention centers, including Ofer Prison in the West Bank and Ketziot Prison in southern Israel. Large crowds gathered in Ramallah and Gaza to celebrate their return.
The ceasefire’s next steps remain uncertain. Phase two of the agreement would involve the release of all remaining living hostages held in Gaza in exchange for additional Palestinian prisoners. However, negotiations for this phase have not yet begun. With the truce set to end in just days, the future of the fragile agreement remains in question.